Community submission: Feds barricade Bon Secour. Would this happen to Mobile Delta if nationalized?

The federal government has closed and locked up the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge.

Federal agents are running off citizens attempting to use the nationalized property in Baldwin County.

Dean Young, a congressional candidate in the Nov. 5 runoff, says a closure like that at Bon Secour closure is exactly what would happen to the Mobile-Tensaw Delta if it were taken over by the federal government. Young says he will fight nationalization of the Delta if elected.

Former Congressman Jo Bonner placed the Delta project onto the agenda of the federal Department of the Interior, and the next Congressman would be able to remove it.

A spokesman for the Bon Secour staff said Friday: “The Bon Secour National wildlife Refuge staff are out of the office during the duration of the government shutdown. We will not be checking messages but will return your call upon return to the office.”

LISTEN YOURSELF TO WHAT HAPPENED TO BON SECOUR NATIONAL REFUGE: 251-540-7720.

Is this local closure a necessary cost-savings from the federal government “shutdown?” It appears that costs of keeping the public out may be greater than the costs of allowing them in.

Federal agents are running off hikers, campers, beach-goers, boaters and swimmers, even in those areas where these activities were allowed with no supervision. Federal barricades have been purchased and erected to keep motorists out, even on those roads that required no supervision.

As unpleasant as this shutdown of a natural preserve is, it may build support for a group fighting against turning the nearby Mobile-Tensaw Delta into a national reserve or park. “Save Our Delta” is leading opposition to a federal takeover of the Delta.
Save Our Delta has a rally scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 20 at Dead Lake Marina in Mobile County. The two-hour event is slated to start at 2:30 p.m.

Stockton resident David Peterson created “Save Our Delta” and is circulating a petition against federal control of the Delta at locations across Baldwin County. Former Public Service Commissioner Jim Zeigler is serving as volunteer attorney for “Save Our Delta” and will serve as program chairman for the rally.

Peterson and his sister Linda Peterson Johnson designed T-shirts for Save Our Delta, which will be on sale at the rally. The speakers will outline how each citizen can have an impact in keeping local control of the Delta, according to Zeigler.

The rally will feature south Alabama music. Rally attendees are encouraged to bring their own folding chairs and bottled water. The event is non-alcoholic. Attendees may bring their own picnic lunches.

Troy Garrett started the Save Our Delta Facebook page coordinating opposition to the takeover at “Save the Mobile/Tensaw Delta.” It gained over 4,000 followers in the first month.

Orange Beach real estate developer and Congressional candidate Dean Young is leading a citizen effort to get the Mobile County Commissioners to reverse themselves and withdraw a resolution of support for a Delta national park study. One commissioner, Jerry Carl, has already agreed to change his vote and withdraw the resolution.

The resolution passed by the Mobile County Commission supported an update of a study done in 1979 on the feasibility of designating the Delta as a national park and reserve. Mobile Commissioner Merceria Ludgood said the commission’s vote was solely a show of support that the federal government update its study.